A trading business can be built in several ways, and the legal shape follows how goods and money actually move. The question this page helps with is which entity should buy, sell and hold title, and whether you need to touch the goods at all.
A principal buys goods and resells them, so it carries stock, credit and price risk. An agent or intermediary introduces a buyer and a supplier and earns a commission, so it carries far less of that. The two may call for different set-ups and banking. Which one you are decides almost everything else, and it helps to say it out loud before choosing a structure.
Each row asks something different of the company you register.
What the company does: Buys, holds and resells goods. What the structure must cope with: Title, warehousing, supplier prepayments, customer credit.
What the company does: Buys and resells while goods ship directly from supplier to buyer. What the structure must cope with: Two invoices for one shipment, documents that must match, who is named as the seller.
What the company does: Introduces and earns a commission. What the structure must cope with: Evidence of the agency role, commission contracts, getting paid by a foreign principal.
The assessment places your plan in one of these rows, or in a mix, before comparing places.
When both counterparties are abroad, the company may never see the goods. Which country it belongs in then depends more on banks and customers than on logistics.
Some goods need an import or export permit, or are controlled. We do not state which; where your product might be one, a local professional has to confirm before you commit.
Prepayment to suppliers and open terms to buyers put the company between two cash cycles. The structure should be able to carry that.
This is business and structuring analysis, not legal, tax or investment advice. Where a legal or tax opinion is needed, we say so and point you to a licensed adviser.
No. Freight is a separate service and customs matters need a licensed broker. The assessment covers the company question around the trade.
No. We flag where a permit question may arise and say a local professional must confirm it.
No obligation. We read your request and reply with a straight answer.
Describe your plan and your constraints. We reply with what we would look at first.
Request an assessment